Loading machine



Jan. 29, 1929.

N. D. LEVIN LOADING MACHINE Original Filed July 21, 1921 2 slams -sneet1- Jan. 29, 1 929.

original Filed July 21. 1921 1,700,294 N. D. LEVIN LOADING MACHINE2-..Sheets-Sheet 2 Fatented Jan. 29, 192355.

PATET OFFICE.

NILS I). LEVIN, 0F COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

LOADING MACHINE.

Application filed July 21, 1921, Serial No. 486,651.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inloading machines adapted to gather the dislodged coal from the floor ofa mine and load it into suitably disposed cars for transportation fromthe mine.

The usual method of mining coal comprises the drilling of holes into thebody of the vein, and the explosion therein of suitable explosive toblast out fragments which are afterwards loaded into cars fortransportation from the mine.

It is a common, though not universal, practice to form kerfs in the coalbody, usually as near the mine floor as possible, to facilitate thebreaking down of the coal above the kerf. These kerfs are commonlyformed by mining machines having supporting devices positioned in asomewhat lower plane than the cutting devices by which the kerfs areproduced, resulting in an uneven floor composed of a succession ofoff-sets, or steps. Numerous attempts have been made to adapt loadingmachines, comprising conveyors associated with gathering devices ofvarious sorts, to the mechanical taking up of the loose, broken coalfrom the floor of the mine and loading it into suitably positioned carsfor transportation from the mine. The irregularities of the mine floorproduced by the action of the mining machine above referred to, or tothe irregular breaking of the coal when, no under kerf is formed, haveconstituted obstructions which seriously interferewith the economicaloperation of loading machines such as have been heretofore constructed.Frequently the force of the blast is expended without thoroughlydisrupting the coal which is left standing in con'iparatively largefragments interlocked. in a mass too compact to be handled by thegathering devices of the machine heretofore constructed. in such casesthese interlocked fra unents must be manually dislor ed, materiallyincreasing the labor of leading and correspondingly reducing theeliiciency of the machine.

It is the especial object of this invention to provide improved machineadapted to expeditiously and conveniently remove broken coal from thefloor of a mine chamher and load it into suitably disposed cars fortransportation from the mine.

further object is to provide a machine Renewed January 5, 1827.

of the class described having gathering devices adapted to engage themasses of coal which have been partially shattered by the blast andcomplete its disruption to render possible the gathering and loading ofthe fragments for transportation.

A further object is to provide a machine of the class described havingmeans to dislodge the bottom coal which adheres to the sub stratum andthereby provide an even floor over which the machine may be advanced.

A further object is to provide a machine of the class described havingmeans to vertically adjust the bottom coal dislodginnj mechanism tocause itto follow the inclinations of the strata.

The devices by which I attain these objects are fully set forth in thefollowing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings ofwhich 1 is a general plan view of one em bodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view having certain parts broken away todisclose the power devices by which the machine is actuated.

Fig. 4': is a section taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail partly in sections showing the method .ofsupporting the inner end of the gathering bar.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the feeding mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating one method of operating themachine.

Like numerals refer to similar parts in the several figures.

Preferably my improved loading machine is mounted upon a base plate 1adapted to rest upon and slide over the floor of the mine.

Extending longitudinally of the base plate 1 is a main conveyor whichmay be of any preferred construction. For purposes of illustration Ihave shown a conveyor 2 of the type illustrated in Patent 1,34%],953issued to me on September 7th, 1920, which comprises an elongated trough3 along which travels a plurality of spaced scraper cross bars 4attached to and propelled by a pair of endless which are not shown. thedraw on the counter shaft 2%.

ings. As conveyors of this type are well known in the art and as itsdetails form no part in the present invention further description is notthought to be required at this time. This conveyor has a receivingportion disposed in horizontal planes adjacent the mine floor, and aninclined elevating portion adapted to lift the coal to a suitableelevation above the mine floor. The trough 3 is provided with sideplates 5 and 6 to prevent the overflow of material along the sides ofthe conveyor.

1 have also provided a transversely extending delivery conveyor 8adapted to receive material from the main conveyor and discharge it overthe side of a mine car 9 suitably positioned upon a track 10 whichextends parallel to the working face of the coal. This deliveryconveyor-maybe of any preferred type. For purposes of illustration Ihave shown a conveyor of the same general class as that illustrated inPatent No. 1,246,762, issued to me on November 13th, 1917 and comprisingtwo parallel troughs 1'1 and '12 positioned in the same horizontal planeone each side of the guide frame 13. Around the guide frame 13 travels asuitable endless chain, not shown in the drawings, which propels thelaterally extending scraper flights i l 'by which ma terial is propelledalong the trough 11. As such conveyors are well known in the art, and asits details form no part of the present invention, further descriptionis not thought to he required at this time.

hlounted .upon the base plate 1 is a motor 15 by which the severalelements of the machine are actuated. This motor may be of I anypreferred type suitable to the conditions under which the machine isoperated. For purposes of illustration '1 have shown an electric motorwhich may receive electric current in ,any convenient manner from anyconvenient source of supply, and which may be controlled through anysuitable controlling devices. but as such devices are well known in theart and form no part in the present invention their illustration anddescription is not thought to be required at this time.

'Ihe-motor 15 is provided with a pinion 16 connected through a train ofgears 17. 1S and 1'9 with a power shaft 20 su 'iportcd in suitablebearings of the main frame. To the power shaft 20 is attached a sprocketwheel 21 which is connected by a suitable chain with a similar sprocketwheel 22: The counter shaft 24: is supported in suitable journalbearings of the main frame and is connected through a pair of spur gears25 and 26 with. the conveyor driving shaft 2'? upon which are mountedtwo sprocket wheels 28 adapted to engage the chains of the conveyor 2 todrive them. Power is transmitted from the the feed shaft 39.

he required at this time.

counter shaft 2% through the sprocket wheels .29 and 30 and the drivingchain 31 to the driving shaft 32 of the auxiliary conveyor. The shaft 82carries a bevel gear 33 which es a similar bevel gear '34: upon thevertical head shaft '35 of the auxiliary conveyor to actuate it.

Fixed to the power shaft 20 is an eccentric 36 having an eccentric rod37 connected with a rocker arm '38 adapted to oscillate about the feedshaft 39. The feed shaft 39 is supported in suitable journal bearings ofthe main frame and carries a ratchet wheel lO arranged to be engaged bya pawl ll mounted upon the rocker arm 38. When the power shaft '20revolves the eccentric 36 causes the oscillation of the rocker arm 38and, through the engagement ofthe pawl $1 with the ratchet a0 causes therevolution of A second pawl 42 mount ed upon the frame work of themachine is arranged to engage the ratchet wheel to prevent retrogrademovement thereof.

'hlounted for free rotation upon the feed shatt 39 is'a winding drum 43which is connectable with said shatt by suitable clutch mechanism of-anyn'e'lerred type, but as-such clutches are well understood in the art andform no part in the prescnt invention further description andillustratoin is not thoughtto Suitable means, such as the operatinglever 44, is provided for t-hecon'trol of said clutch mechanism and theengagement or disengagement of the winding drum with the feed shaft.VVindable upon "the drum 43 is a feed rope 45 the free end of whichadapted to be connected with a suitable anchor jack 46 positioned inadvance of the machine. When the winding drum 4:3 is caused to revo vetowindthe rope 4L5 the tension upon said rope tends to draw the machinebodily towards the anchor jack t6 and thereby feed the apparatus to itswork. The reaction of the gathering'1necha nism upon the material whichis to be loaded tends to crowd the rear end of the anachine outwardlyfrom the coal face and I have provided a strut 47 having a sliding shoe48 adapted to engage the rails of the mine track 10 to counteract suchtendency and maintain the machine in proper working relation.

As shown in the drawings, the gathering mechanism comprises a rotarycut-tor bar ell) which consists of a s it 50 to which is keyed aplurality of spider ections 51. The spider scctii'ins are formed withsockets 52 in which are secured renewable cutter bits 53 of the typecommonly used in coal mining machinery. The cutter bar 49 extendshorizontally across the forward end of the main .-onveyor and projectsperpendicularly inward tllil'GflOHl. At is outer end the shaft issupported in ournal bearings 54 formed on the forward end of alongitudinally extending arm 55 positioned outside of the main conveyor.At its inner end there is formed a longitudinally extending apertureinto which projects the stud shaft 58 formed on. the forward end of asimilar longitudinally extending arm 57. The arn'is and 57 are keyed tothe shaft 58 which is supported for rotation in a journal hearing 59attacheiil to the base plate 1 and in a journal bearing 60 attached tothe supplemental base plate (31 which rests upon and is slidable overthe mine floor. The siuiipleinental base plate 61 is rigidly connectedwith the main frame of the machine by a diagonal brace bar (59;. Keyedto the shaft 58 is an upvardl y extending arm 63 to which is pivotallyconnected a nut 64 having an adjusting rod 65 screw threaded therein.The adjusting rod extends rearwardly of the machine through a suitablebearing 66 attached to the main frame, and is provioed with a hand wheel6? by which it may be rotated to cause the arms 55 and 57 to rock aboutthe axis of the journal bearings 59 and 60, to vertically adjust therotary cutter bar 49. A sprocket wheel 68 keyed to the shaft 50 isconnected. by a suitable chain 69 with the sprocket wheel 70 upon thecounter shaft 2a to rotate the cutter bar.

Extending perpendicularly inward from the forward end of the mainconveyor 2, is an auxiliary gathering conveyor 71 the forward. sid ofwhich lies parallel with and in close proximity to the rotary cutter bar49. The conveyor 71 is preferably of the same type as the conveyor 2. Atits outer end the gathering conveyor 71 is supported upon the frame workof the main conveyor, and at its inner end upon the supplemental baseplate 61. Along its forward side there is a downwardly and forwardlyprojecging plate 72 which forms a shield to prevent loose materialpassing under the supplemental conveyor, and along its rearward edgethere is an upwardly extending plate 73 which serves to prevent materialspilling along the rearward. side of the conveyor. The head shaft of thesupplemental gathe ing conveyor is provided with a miter gear 74 whichengages with a similar gear 75 attached to a suitable cross shaft towhich is attached. a sprocket wheel 76. The sprocket wheel 76 isconi'iecteul by a chain '77 with the sprocket wheel 78 on the countcrshaft 24 to drive the gathering conveyor. The construction of theconveyors 2 and 71 is such that their vertical dimensiions may heconfined within extremely narrow limits, greatly facilitating thegathering of material into their troughs.

During the operation, of the machine the. rotary cutter bar 49 revolvesin such a direction that the cutter bits ,53 along the ad.- vancing sideof the bar will travel upward to engage material on the floor of themine and throw it by centrifugal force onto the conveyor. Normally thecutter bar 49 is so adjusted that the lowermost points in the path oftravel of its cutter bits is at the line of the mine floor, and bottomcoal adhering to the sub stratum will be engaged hy these cutter bitsand cut or torn loose to form an even floor over which the machine maybe conveniently advanced.

Should the coal above the kerf be little shattered by the force of theblast that it fails to fall down upon the mine floor in suitablecondition for loading, the cutter bar 49 may, by the manipulation of thehand wheel 67, be adjusted upwardly to engage the partially severed coaland tear it apart, after which the cutter bar may be rez-stored, to itsinitial position to load the dislodgei coal from the mine floor.

Machines such as are above described are especially adapted to use inmines operating upon the longwall system of mining. In such a mine thecoal is undercut and blasted down, or otherwise prepared, along a faceof considerable length, and the track 10 is arranged in suitablerelation parallel to the Working face. The loading machine is initiallypositioned at one end of the face, the strut shoe 4-7 is arranged toengage the track rail 10, and the feed rope 45 sufiiciently unwound fromthe Winding drum 43 and attached to the anchor jack 46 positionedadjacent the pile of dislodged material and in advance of the machine.The mine cars 9 may be arranged in a continuous train upon the track 10with the first car in suitable position rceneath the delivery conveyor8. As the machine advances along the coal face material is taken up bythe gathering mechanism from the end of the pile, is carried rearwardand upward by the main conveyor, and loaded by the delivery conveyorinto the cars. Commonly a minelocomotive is provided to move the trainrelative to the loadmachine at such a speed that the coal will bedistributed throughout the entire length of the train withoutinterrupting the operation of the machine. It is obvious however thatthe cars may be handled separately, but wit-h a less efficient use ofthe apparatus.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for loading coal in mines, the combination with anelongated conveyor having a receiving portion extending in horizontalplanes adjacent the mine floor and a delivery portion extendinglaterally at an angle to said receiving portion, means to move saidconveyor laterally over said floor, a horizontal bar extending parallelto and adjacent the advancing side of the receiving portion of saidconveyor, cutter bit-s attached to said bar and adapted to engagematerial at'the level of the mine floor, and means to cause therevolution of said barabeut its ice lill

longitudinal axis to cause said bits to engage said material and lift itonto the receiving portion of said conveyor.

2. In a machine for loading coal in mines, the combination with anelongated conveyor having a receiving portion extendin in herizontalplanes adjacent the mine floor and a delivery portion extendinglaterally at an angle to said receiving portion, means to move saidconveyor laterally over said floor, a horizontal bar extending parallelto and adjacent the advancing side of the receiving portion of saidconveyor, cutter bits attached to said bar and adapted to engagematerial at the level of the mine floor, and means to cause therevolution of said bar about its longitudinal axis to produce upward andrearward movement of said bits on the advancing side of said bar tocause them to lift said material onto the receiving portion of saidconveyor.

3. In a machine for loading coal in mines, the combination with asupporting frame adapted to rest upon and slide over the door of themine, of conveyor mechanism mounted upon said frame having a receivingportion extending in horizontal planes adjacent the mine floor and adelivery portion adapted to discharge material into a suit ably disposedreceptacle for transportation from the mine, devices upon the framedapted to bodily move and guide the machine relative to the material tobe loaded, a rotary bar parallel with and adjacent the side of thereceiving portion of the conveyor, a plurality of cutter bits attachedto said bar, means to cause the revolution of said bar about itslongitudinal axis, and means to vertically adjust said rotary bar tocause said bits to engage material at the level of the mine floor or atlevels above said floor and lift it onto said conveyor.

4. In a machine for loading coal in mines, the combination with anelongated conveyor having a receiving portion extending ally from saidconveyor in horiaontal planes adjacent the mine floor, means to movesaid conveyor laterally over said floor, a horizontal bar extendingparallel to and adjacent the advancing side of said conveyor, cutterbits attached to said bar, means to cause the revolution of said barabout its longitudinal axis, and means to vertically adjust said rotarybar to cause said bits to engage material at the level of the mine liooror at levels above said lloor and lift it onto said conveyor. 7

In a machine for loading c )tll in mines, the combination with anelongated conveyor having a receiving portion extending in herizontalplanes adjacent the mine floor, means to move said conveyor laterallyover said floor, arms extending transversely of said conveyor andpivotally supported inthe rear thereof, a horizontal bar in advance ofsaid conveyor extending parallel to and adjacent the side thereof andsupported in journal bearings at the forward end of said arms,-cutterbits attached to said bar, means to cause the revolution of said barabout its longitudinal axis, and means to rotate said arms about theirpivotal supports to cause said cutter bits to engage material at thelevel of the mine floor or at levels above said floor and lift it ontosaid conveyor.

6. in a machine for loading coal in mines, the combination with an.elongated conveyor having a receiving portion extending laterally fromsaid conveyor in horizontal planes adjacent the mine floor, means tomove said conveyor laterally over said floor, a horizontal bar extendingparallel to and adjacent the advancing side of said conveyor, cutterbits attached to said bar, means to cause the revolution of said barabout its longn idinal axis to cause said cutter bits to engage materialin advance of the machine and lift it onto said conveyor, and meansletween said bar and he receiving portion of said conveyor to preventloose n'iaterial passing beneath said conveyor.

7. ln a machine tor loading coal in mines, the combination with anelongated conveyor having a receiving portion extending laterall fromsaid conveyor in horizontal planes adjacent the mi re floor, means tomove said conveyor laterally over said floor, a horizontal bar extendingparallel to and adjacent the advancing side of said conveyor, cutterbits attached to said bar, means to cause the involution of said i arabout its longitudinal axis to cause said cutter bits to engagematerial. in advance of the machine and lift it onto said conveyor, anda scraperbetween said bar and the receiving portion of said conveyor.

8. in a machine for loading coal in mines, the combination with anelongated conveyor having a. receiving portion extending laterally i'romsaid conveyor in horizontal planes adjacent the mine floor, means tomove said conveyor laterally over s'aid floor, a horizontal bar exending parallel to and adjacent the advancing side of said conveyor,cutter bits attached to said bar, means to cause the revolution of saidbar about its longitudinal axis to cause said cutter bits to engagemaerial in advance of the machine and liit it :to said conveyor, and ascraper carried by he conveyor frame bet-ween said bar and the vingportion of said conveyor.

n a machine for loading coal in mines, ll 0 combination with asupporting frame apiied to rest upon and slide over the floor of themine. of conveyor mechanism mounted upon said frame having a receivingportion extendin in horizontal plane-s adjacent the mine floor and adelivery portion disposed at angle to said receiving portion adapted todischarge material into a suitably disposed receptacle fortransportation from the mine, devices upon the frame adapted to bodilymove and guide the machine relative to the material to be loaded, and aplurality of coal engaging elements arranged adjacent the side of thereceiving portion of the conveyor and adapted to upward and rearwardmovement whereby the coal will be lifted from the floor of the mine ontothe receiving portion oi said conveyor.

10. In a machine for loading coal in mines, the combination with asupporting frame adapted to rest upon and slide over the floor of themine, of conveyor mechanism mounted upon said trame and having areceiving portibn extending in horizontal plane-s adjacentthe mine floorand a delivery portion disposed at an'angle to said receiving portionadapted to discharge material into a suitably disposed. receptacle fortransportation from the mine, devices upon the frame adapted to bodilymove and guide the machine relative to the material which is to beloaded, a retary bar parallel with and adjacent the side of thereceiving portion of said conveyor, a plurality of cutte bits attachedto said bar, and means to cause the revolution of said bar about itslongitudinal axis to cause said cutter bits to engage said material andlift it onto the receiving portion of said conveyor.

11. In a machine for loading coal in mines, the combination with anelongated conveyor having a receiving portion extending laterally fromsaid conveyor in horizontal planes adjacent the mine foor and a deliveryportion at an angle to said receiving portion, means to move saidconveyor laterally over said floor, a horizontal shaft extendinglongitudinally of said conveyor in advance of and parallel to itsadvancing side, a plurality of teeth attached to said shaft and adaptedto engage material upon the mine floor as said conveyor advances, andmeans to cause the revolution of said shalt about its longitudinal axisto produce upward and inward movement oi? said teeth whereby saidmaterial will be transferred from said mine floor to the receivingportion of said conveyor.

12. In a machine for loading coal in mines, the combination with anelongated conveyor having a receiving portion laterally from saidconveyor extending in horizontal planes adjacent the mine floor, of

means to move said conveyor laterally over' said floor, and a gatheringmechanism extending along the advancing side of said conveyor comprisinga plurality of teeth adapted to engage material at the level of ihe minefloor as the conveyor advances, and means to impart upward and mwardmovenient to said teeth whereby said material will be transferred fromsaid floor to said conveyor. 7

13. In a machine for. loading coal 1n mines, the combination with aconveyor having a receiving portion extending laterally from saidconveyor in planes adjacent the mine floor, means to move said conveyortransversely over said mine floor, a gathering mechanism comprising aplurality of coal engaging elements adapted to initially contact withthe coal along lines transversely of the conveyor, and means to actuatesaid coal engaging elements to cause them to engage the coal in advanceoil? the machine and transfer it to said. conveyor.

14. In a machine for loading coal in mines, the combination with anelongated conveyor having a receiving portion extending laterally fromsaid conveyor in horizontal planes adjacent the mine floor, means tomove said conveyor laterally over said floor, a horizontal bar extendingparallel to and adjacent the advancing side of said conveyor, cutterbits attached to said bar, means to cause the revolution of said barabout its longitudinal to cause said cutter bits to engage material inadvance ot the machine and lift it onto said conveyor, a downwardlyprojecting apron at the forward side of said conveyor arranged toprevent material passing under said conveyor, and an upwardly projectingapron attached to the rearward side of said conveyor arranged to preventmaterial being thrown beyond the conveyor.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a suitablesupporting frame, a main conveyor mounted on'said frame and adapted toreceive material at a low level and deliver it at a higher level, areceiving conveyor extending laterally from the lower end oi said mainconveyor and adapted to lie in close proximity to a mine floor, and amaterial gathering device in front of said receiving conveyor to liftand deliver material thereto. I

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a suitablesupporting frame, a main conveyor mounted on said frame and adapted toreceive material at'a "l and deliver it at a higher level, a rccoivii gon voyor extending laterally from the lower end oi said main conveyorand adapted to lie in close proximity to a mine floor, and a rotarymaterial gathering device in front of said receiving conveyor to liftand deliver material thereto.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a suitablesupporting frame, a main conveyor mounted on said frame and adapted toreceive material at a low level and deliver it at a higher level, areceiving conveyor extending laterally from thelower end of said mainconveyor and adapted to lie in close proximity to a mine floor, and arotary cutter bar in front of said receiving conveyor to lift anddeliver material thereto. v

18. In a machine of the class described,

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lit)

the combination of a suitable supporting frame; an elongated, inclined,main conveyor mounted on said frame, a receiving conveyor extendinglaterally at right angles from the lower end of said main conveyor inclose proximity to the mine floor, a material gathering device in frontof said re ceiving conveyor to lift and deliver material thereto, meansfor raising and lowering said device, a delivering conveyor extendingfrom the upper end of said main conveyor at right angles thereto and inan opposite direction from that of said receiving conveyor, means foradvancing said machine, and means to prevent the machine turning underthrusts against said gathering device.

19. In a machine ot the class described, the comb'nation or a suitablesupporting frame; an elongated, inclined, main conveyor mounted on saidframe, a recelving conveyor extending laterally at r1ght angles from thelower end of said main conveyor in close proximity to the mine floor, arotary material gathering device in front oi said receiving conveyor tolift and deliver material thereto, means for raising and lowering saiddevice, a delivering conveyor extending from the upper end of sa1d ma1nconveyor at right angles thereto and in an opposite direction from thatotsaid rece1ving conveyor, means for advancing said machine, and athrust resisting bar extend ng from said machine to prevent the machineturning under thrusts against said gathering device.

20. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supportadapted to slide over the floor of a mine, an elongated inclined mainconveyor, mounted on said sup port, a receiving conveyor extendinglaterallyat right angles from the lower end of said main conveyor inclose proximity to the mine floor, a rotary cutter bar in front of saidreceiving conveyor to gather and lift material thereto, manuallyoperable means tor raising or lowering said cutter bar, a deliveringconveyor extending from the upper end of said main conveyor at rightangles thereto and in an opposite direction "from that of said receivingconveyor, a motor on said support to drive said conveyors and cutterbar, and motor operate means for advancing said machine over the minefloor.

21. In a machine oithe class described, the combination of a supportadapted to slide over the floor of a mine, an elongated inclined mainconveyor mounted on said support, a receiving conveyor extendinglaterally at right angles from the lower end of said main conveyor inclose proximity to the mine floor, a rotary cutter bar in front of saidreceiving conveyor to gather and lift material thereto, manuallyoperable means for raising or lowering said cutter bar, a deliveringconveyor extending from the upper end of said main conveyor at rightangles thereto and in an opposite direction from that of said receivingconveyor, a motor on said support to drive said conveyors and cutterbar, motor operated means for advancing said machine over the minefloor, and a thrust resisting bar extending froni the rear of themachine in a direction 0pposite to the direction of said cutter bar toprevent the machine turning under thrusts against said cutter bar.

22; In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supportadapted to slide over the floor of a mine, an elongated inclined mainconveyor mounted on said support, a receiving conveyor extendinglaterally at right angles from the lower end of said main conveyor in.close proximity'to the mine floor, a rotary cutter bar in front of saidreceiving conveyor to gather and lift material thereto, manuallyoperable means for raising or lowering said cutter bar, a deliveringconveyor extending from the up per end of said main conveyor at rightanthereto and in an opposite direction from that of said receivingconveyor, a motor on said support to drive said conveyors and cutterbar, motor operated intermittent mechanism for advancing said machinestep by step, and a thrust resisting bar extending from the rear of themachine in a direction opposite to the direction of said cutter bar toprevent the machine turning under thrusts against said cutter bar.

23. In a machine of the class described,

the combination of a supporting. frame, a

main conveyor mounted on said frame and adapted to receive material at alow level and deliver it at a higher level, a material gathering deviceextending laterally from the lower end of said main conveyor, areceiving con veyor extending laterally from the lower end 0t said mainconveyor and in position to receive material "from said gathering deviceand. deliver it to said main conveyor, and a delivering conveyorextending laterally from. the upper end 01 said main conveyor andadapted to receive n'iaterial from the upper end of said mainconveyor.

24. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supportingframe, a main conveyor mounted on said frame and adapted to receivematerial at a low level and deliver it at a higher level, a materialgathering device extending laterally from the lower end of said mainconveyor, a, receiving conveyor extending laterally from the. lower endof said main conveyor and parallel to said gathering device to receivematerial and deliver it to said main conveyor, and a delivering conveyorextending laterally from the upper end of said main conveyor in adirection opposite to the direc-' tion of said receiving conveyor andadapted to receive material from the upper end of said main conveyor.

25. in a machine of the class described, the combination of a supportingframe, a main conveyor mounted on said frame and adapted to receivematerial at low level and deliver it at a higher level, a rotatingmaterial gathering device extending laterally from the lower end oi saidmain conveyor, a receiving conveyor extending from the lower end of saidmain conveyor in rear of and parallel said gathering device to receivematerial therefrom and deliver it to'said main conveyor, a receivinghopper at the upper end or said main conveyor to receive materialtherefrom, and a delivery conveyor in said hopper to deliver materiallaterally therefrom.

26. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a supportingframe, a main conveyor mounted on said frame and adapted to receivematerial at a low level and deliver it at a higher level, a receivingconveyor extending laterally from the lower end of said main conveyor, agathering device extending across the frontoi said main convcyor andparallel with said receiving conveyor to gather material and deliver itto said conveyor, means for adjusting said gathering device vertically,and a delivering c0nveyor at the upper end of said main conveyor toreceive material therefrom and deliver it laterally of said mainconveyor.

27. In a coal-mining machine, a horizontally extending keri' cuttercomprising a body portion and a cutter bar projecting there from adaptedfor forming a kerf out under a pile of loose coal, an endless conveyorsecured to the body portion of said kerf cutter and having a portionprojecting in spaced parallelism with said cutter bar whereby when thelatter is forming said kerf the projecting portion or said conveyor willbe moved through saio irer'f and will carry away the coal ilallingthereupon, and a vertically inclined JOZUCl carried by the inner side ofthe projecting portion of said conveyor and extending laterally with itsfree edge underlying the pathor travel of the cutters on the cutter barfor scraping up coal between the cutter bar and the conveyor as the sameare moved laterally through said kerf.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

NILS D. LEVIN.

